I have been an occasional poster on this forum and have not seen this issue discussed (prob my oversight). I have a constant ringing in my ears post TX (TX ended 02/27/09). Does anyone know about this, and has anybody found relief? Sometimes I don't think about it, but when it is quiet, it is hard to ignore! My ENT Doc says it is permanent, but that they are working on it....any suggestions would be appreciated.

Sorry Chuck but this item has been discussed numerous times. Unfortunately a nasty side effect of the Cisplatin can be permanent hearing loss. I am one that despite their warning I suffered permanent high frequency hearing loss. You should have been warned about that from the start. What is normally told the ones getting Cis which is still the main chemo used, is that IF you hear ringing in your ears notify your chemo doc ASAP. Most will then switch you to Carboplatin which is supposed to be just as effective as Cisplatin but without the nasty side effects. I know, don't ask why they just don't use Carbo to begin with but Carbo has never been tested in the volumes that Cis has so that's why I was told they don't. I assume you were given 3 treatments of Cisplatin as opposed to the 6 weekly doses some have started giving. Anyway back to your question. The ringing you hear is the actual damage being done to your ears and to my knowledge there is no reversing it. Get yourself a hearing test to confirm what damage may have already occurred. Problem for all of us is they don't give us a pre Tx hearing test to establish a baseline and of course they won't take our word that we had perfect hearing going in. After you confirm the damage see if your insurance company will spring for hearing aids assuming you need them now.

As usual, DavidCPA is spot on. My MO pushed Erbitux because of the high percentage of his patients on Cisplatin who did experience the hearing loss and ringing in the ears damage.
Even when the Cancer came back, my MO used Carboplatin.
Ironically, I did have a full hearing test done right before TX back when everyone was busy misdiagnosing my ear pain.
For what it is worth, I would gladly trade you that ringing in the ears for the ability to swallow & eat. The important thing to remember is that we are still alive to be feeling these complications. My advice is the same as DavidCPA's
Charm

The ringing is called tinnitus. I did not have chemo but I have had a bad case of tinnitus for many years. It is almost always irreversible and as Charm said, is the after effect of the hearing loss. I got it from a bad ear infection long ago.

Charm & all - Thanks. I agree, the ringing in the ears is a small trade-off for a (so far) good outcome. Perhaps there will be something down the road that will help. In the meantime, it is manageable. My best to each of you, and thanks for the replies.

Chuck

How gracious. I started to worry that you would think I was I minimizing your terrible side effect of having that ringing in the ears. But you understood that I was just clumsily trying to lighten your spirits with that old bromide: "Cheer up, it could be worse". After a few days of suffering in your situation, I would probably be singing a different tune and saying give me back my feeding tube and take away this awful ringing.
I do hope that you see a doctor anyway to follow up.
Also, be sure to keep checking the OCF news feed. If there is any new treatments, then they'll be listed there.
With your great attitude you are well on the way to putting this cancer behind you
Charm

Chuck,

After having this for many years I don't notice it much anymore. I do when I think about it (like right now) but I'll forget about it in a few minutes when I start my mind on another task.

Somehow our minds learn how to tune out the sound. I have a friend with the same problem (accident) who say's the same thing.

So after a while it is not as annoying as you think it will be.

Chuck,

I too now have ear ringing following an initial dose of Cisplatin almost 4 years ago. I was alerted before the first treatment to watch for ear ringing but I think it's sorta like idiot lights in your car. Once the light comes on it is too late as the damage has been done. I have adjusted to it I guess as I have just learned to live with it.

Good luck,

Bill Dozier

I had Cisplatin to treat my tonsil cancer 9 years ago and I recall that I heard ringing sound occasionally after treatment and that lasted about a year. Sometimes I rushed to the door thinking that someone pressed the bell but no one was there. This was quite frustrating but gradually, the sound faded and soon, my hearing was back normal, 100%.So ringing in ears can die out..at least in my case.

Chuck:
Everyone is right on...it is the cisplatin. I had an ear test before treatment and after each Chemo. After the 1st 2 doses they noticed the I was starting to lose hearing at high frequency. So for my last dose they split into two....I have some ringing but it seems to be less frequent. Doesn't seem to make sense but ....?? In fact I hardly notice it any more. Did you get treated at Baptist ?